In a city each man must add his own skills for the common goal. If each man is working against each other then the city will fail. This is the reason that every individual is not good at everything. If everyone could do everything then we wouldn't be able to split the work between the most talented people and provide the best work. A city has the main goal of bring people together and creating one force.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Book II- A Common Goal
At 369c Socrates says, "So, then, when one man takes on another for one need and another for another need, and, since many things are needed, many men gather in one settlement as partners and helpers, to this common settlement we give the name city, don't we?" Each man has a given gift and has certain skills. Some men are good at engineering while others are great farmers. Each man contributes his own skills to make the city. If everyman was the same then the city would not have much potential to grow. When they put their skills together, they can accomplish great things.
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No one person is exactly the same, nor will one person do things the exact same as others. The building of the city was built by different individuals with different visions which brought about different perspectives for the buildings outcome. You can also relate this to any other type of situation or job.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about what my role is supposed to be in my city. I know it's not the same as Socrates' just city, but it still runs the same way that everything a city needs must have people doing them. What are we all supposed to do in our cities?
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